CDR Kevin B. O'Brien
Commanding Officer
A native of Massachusetts, Commander Kevin O’Brien graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 2000 where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics and was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Afloat, his initial sea tour was aboard USS DENVER (LPD 9), homeported in San Diego, California. Serving as Repair Division Officer, Auxiliaries Officer, and Combat Information Center Officer, he completed a deployment to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf. He remained onboard DENVER for his second division officer tour and served as Navigation Officer.
His first shore assignment was assigned to Naval Coastal Warfare Group ONE (NCWG-1) in San Diego, California where he served as Maintenance Officer. During this time, he earned a Master’s of Business Administration degree from National University.
He returned to sea in 2007 as Operations Officer in USS CURTS (FFG 38), homeported in San Diego, California, deploying to the Arabian Gulf with the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group. His second department head tour was as Operations Officer in Commander, Destroyer Squadron ONE in San Diego, California.
He entered the Naval War College in January 2010 to pursue a Master’s in National Security and Strategic Studies. During this time he was selected as a Director Fellow for the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group. For one year, he worked with senior officers and scientist from the Navy’s research laboratories to generate revolutionary warfighting concepts at the operational level of war for the Chief of Naval Operations. He graduated with distinction from the Naval War College in February 2012.
He was then selected to serve as Flag Secretary and Staff Executive Officer for Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command from March 2012-April 2014. He then served as Surface Requirements Officer at Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center in Point Loma. He reported as Executive Officer of LCS Crew 106 from November 2016 – April 2018. He fleeted up and served as Commanding Officer of USS SIOUX CITY (GOLD) from June 2018 – August 2019. Currently, CDR O’Brien is serving in sequential command as Commanding Officer, USS WICHITA (LCS 13) as the East Coast training ship for the MCM Mission Package.
Commander O’Brien’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), Navy Commendation Medal (4 awards), Navy Achievement Medal (2 awards), a Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal and various campaign medals.